Explaining how a power upgrade delay may cost energy users billions

Our CEO, Paul McArdle has provided insights to Duncan Hughes from the Australian Financial Review in regards to how a power upgrade delay may cost energy users.

The article begins:

“DEFERRING until 2015 a $120 million upgrade of an electricity interconnector between Queensland and NSW will cost energy users about $5 billion in higher charges, major energy users say.

They claim an arcane formula – called the regulatory test – used to assess the merits of boosting the interconnector fails to take account for the real impact of the outcome on their costs.”

With the author quotes Paul commenting on the situation’s effects:

“Paul McArdle, managing director of market monitor NEM-Watch, said higher generating prices in summer peak periods would raise costs by $690 million a year, or about $5 billion for the next seven years.”